ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: There is limited data on the analytical performance of commercial nucleic acid tests (NATs) for laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal, combined nose and throat swabs, nasopharyngeal aspirates and sputum was collected from persons with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, serial dilutions of SARS-CoV-2 viral cultures and synthetic positive controls (gBlocks, Integrated DNA Technologies) were tested using i) AusDiagnostics assay (AusDiagnostics Pty Ltd); ii) in-house developed assays targeting the E and RdRp genes; iii) multiplex PCR assay targeting endemic respiratory viruses. Discrepant SARS-CoV-2 results were resolved by testing the N, ORF1b, ORF1ab and M genes. RESULTS: Of 52 clinical samples collected from 50 persons tested, respiratory viruses were detected in 22 samples (42 %), including SARS CoV-2 (nâ¯=â¯5), rhinovirus (nâ¯=â¯7), enterovirus (nâ¯=â¯5), influenza B (nâ¯=â¯4), hMPV (nâ¯=â¯5), influenza A (nâ¯=â¯2), PIV-2 (nâ¯=â¯1), RSV (nâ¯=â¯2), CoV-NL63 (nâ¯=â¯1) and CoV-229E (nâ¯=â¯1). SARS-CoV-2 was detected in four additional samples by the AusDiagnostics assay. Using the in-house assays as the "gold standard", the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the AusDiagnostics assay was 100 %, 92.16 %, 55.56 % and 100 % respectively. The Ct values of the real-time in-house-developed PCR assay targeting the E gene was significantly lower than the corresponding RdRp gene assay when applied to clinical samples, viral culture and positive controls (mean 21.75 vs 28.1, pâ¯=â¯0.0031). CONCLUSIONS: The AusDiagnostics assay is not specific for the detection SARS-CoV-2. Any positive results should be confirmed using another NAT or sequencing. The case definition used to investigate persons with suspected COVID-19 infection is not specific.
Subject(s)
Betacoronavirus/isolation & purification , Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods , Nasopharynx/virology , Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , COVID-19 , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Sensitivity and Specificity , Young AdultABSTRACT
Globally, surveillance systems showed an increasein norovirus activity in late 2012. Molecular datashared through the NoroNet network suggest thatthis increase is related to the emergence of a newnorovirus genotype II.4 variant, termed Sydney 2012.Healthcare institutions are advised to be prepared fora severe norovirus season.
Subject(s)
Caliciviridae Infections/epidemiology , Gastroenteritis/virology , Norovirus/genetics , Amino Acid Sequence , Australia/epidemiology , Caliciviridae Infections/diagnosis , Caliciviridae Infections/virology , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/virology , DNA, Viral/genetics , Disease Outbreaks , Gastroenteritis/diagnosis , Gastroenteritis/epidemiology , Genetic Variation , Genotype , Humans , Incidence , Norovirus/classification , Norovirus/isolation & purification , Phylogeny , Population Surveillance , RNA, Viral/genetics , RNA, Viral/isolation & purification , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
In recent years, the health care industry has experienced considerable growth in organizations that are national in focus-organizations that operate in multiple markets not all clustered in one geographic region. This study summarizes information on trends in ownership of various types of health care organizations (i.e., HMOs, PPOs, hospitals, physician practices) for purposes of assessing the growth rate of national companies and the overall significance of this phenomenon. This is followed by a synthesis of factors that encourage or impede the growth of national managed care companies, the sector that has exhibited the most pronounced growth of national companies. We discuss likely future directions and the degree to which national companies may enjoy long-term competitive advantages.
